Warrington Overlay
Councilmember Jamie Gauthier introduced a bill creating the Warrington Affordable Housing Overlay District in West Philadelphia.
Essentially, an overlay changes certain zoning requirements on a parcel or parcels of land in the city under certain conditions. In this case, according to the legislation, “The Warrington Affordable Housing Overlay District shall apply to lots with more than 50,000 sq.ft. of land area, in the area bounded by Warrington Avenue, 50th Street, Springfield Avenue, and a Railroad Right-of-Way.”
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According to information provided by Councilmember Gauthier’s office, the legislation will allow for the development of a 100% affordable housing proposal on the site.
Public Safety Hearing
Councilmember Sharon Vaughn introduced a resolution authorizing the Committee on Public Safety to hold a hearing “regarding the escape of two inmates from the Philadelphia Industrial Correction Center and the persistent, systemic issues within the Philadelphia Department of Prisons that made the escape possible.”
The resolution enumerates the multiple failures that allowed the inmates to exit the prison and allowed their escape to go unnoticed for a critical 18 hours. Over that time, three routine headcounts did not reveal the inmates were missing.
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One escapee was located on May 11, and the second, charged with four murders, was located on May 17th. Four others have been charged with assisting in the escape.
According to the resolution, the prisons were fully staffed in 2017, but now only 1318 of 2186 positions are filled, including key personnel such as guards.
Ease of Doing Business
On behalf of Councilmember Mark Squilla, Councilmember Quetcy Lozada introduced a resolution “urging the Administration to pursue comprehensive, qualitative, and quantitative efforts to improve the ease of doing business in the City of Philadelphia.”
The resolution says how important small businesses are to the growth of the local economy through job growth and calls for the usage of “qualitative and quantitative measures (that) exist on how cities can improve regulatory rules for starting a business, permitting, employing workers, taxes and other indices.”
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Long an issue discussed by city council, the onerous laws and regulations around starting a small business in the city have, according to some sources, dissuaded some potential business owners from opening in the city. The resolution mentions studies concluding that conditions in the city, such as “licensing difficulties, high wage and business taxes and other costs hamper local businesses ability to compete, grow and hire locally.”
Legislation Passed By City Council on Thursday, May 25, 2023
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Resolution No. 230420
Calling on the Administration and School District of Philadelphia to address and expand financial literacy education in the City of Philadelphia. Click here to learn more.
Bill No. 220865
Amending Title 18 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Commerce,” by adding a new Chapter, entitled “Workforce Development Activity and Reporting,” to promote workforce development activity, and to require the Department of Commerce to report to Council certain aggregate information regarding employment rates and training opportunities, and to report on assessments of the economic impact of the City’s workforce development programs, all under certain terms and conditions. Click here to learn more.
Bill No. 220940
Continuing the Roxborough Neighborhood Improvement District beyond its termination date in an area that generally includes both sides of Ridge Avenue from Main Street beginning with 5122 Ridge Avenue to 7220 Ridge Avenue and certain blocks of streets that intersect that portion of Ridge Avenue; continuing the designation of the Roxborough Development Corporation, a Pennsylvania nonprofit corporation, as the Neighborhood Improvement District Management Association for the District; approving a plan for the District, including a list of proposed improvements and their estimated cost, and providing for assessment fees to be levied on property owners within the District; authorizing the Director of Commerce, on behalf of the City, to execute an agreement with the Roxborough Development Corporation relating to the District; and authorizing the Roxborough Development Corporation to assess property owners within the District a special property assessment fee to be used in accordance with the …Click here to learn more.
Bill No. 230080
Continuing a neighborhood improvement district, known as the Northern Liberties Business Improvement District (“District”), in an area that generally includes both sides of North 2nd Street from the north side of Callowhill Street to the south side of Girard Avenue, both sides of North 3rd Street from Spring Garden Street to the south side of Wildey Street, Spring Garden Street from North 2nd Street to the eastern side of North 5th Street, and certain blocks of streets that intersect portions of these streets; designating the Northern Liberties Business Improvement District, Inc., which has organized itself as a Pennsylvania nonprofit corporation, as the Neighborhood Improvement District Management Association for the District; approving a plan for the District, including a list of proposed improvements and their estimated cost, and providing for assessment fees to be levied on property owners within the District; authorizing the Director of Commerce, on behalf of the City, to execute …Click here to learn more.
Bill No. 230152
Amending Section 9-1132 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Cashless Retail Prohibition,” by providing an exemption for gym membership transactions under certain terms and conditions. Click here to learn more.
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